BOTANY EXERCISES

DESCRIPTION OF AN ANGIOSPERM
1. HABIT.
WOODY
PLANTS
HERBACEOUS
PLANTS
TREE SHRUB BUSHES HERBACEOUS
2. VEGETATIVE ORGANS.
2.1 ROOTS TYPES.
AXONOMORPHIC
(DICOTYLEDONS)
FASCICULATE
(MONOTYLEDONS)
1
2.2. STEM: CONSISTENCY.
SQUARE STEM
CYLINDRICAL STEM
2
WOODY
HERBACEOUS
2.2 STEM: SECTION.
2.3 LEAVES: VENATION.
(There can be intermediate situtations.)
3
2.3 LEAVES : FORM.
DICHOTOMOUS
PARALLEL
PALMATE
RETICULATE
PINNATE
RETICULATE
Cordate
(heart-shaped,
stem in cleft)
Cuneate
(wedge shaped,
acute base)
Deltoid
(triangular)
Elliptic
(oval-shaped,
small or no
point)
Lanceolate
(pointed at both
ends)
Oblanceolate
Linear
(parallel
margins,
elongate)
Ovate
(egg-shaped,
wide at base)
Obovate
(egg-shaped,
narrow at
base)
Peltate
(stem attached
centrally)
Perfoliate
(stem seeming
to pierce leaf)
Reniform
(kidney-shaped)
Subulate
(tapering
point, awl-
shaped)
2.3 LEAVES : MARGIN.
Simple leaves
Divided or compuond leaves
4
Entire Sinuate Crenate Dentate Serrate Lobate
Pinnatifid Pinnapartite Pinnatisect Palmatifid Palmapartite
Simple leaf
Stipule
Petiole
Base
Limb
(leaf blade)
Margin or edge
Apice
Glands
Haz
(Upper epidermis)
Midrib
Vein
Compound leaf
Petiole
Leaflet
(pinna)
Rachis
2.3 LEAVES : INSERTION.
2.3 LEAVES : ARRANGEMENT.
PETIOLATE LEAF SESSILE OR SEATED LEAF
2.3 LEAVES : BASES.
2.3 LEAVES : APICES.
5
Acuminate Acute Aristate Cuspidate Emarginate Mucronate Obtuse Rounded Truncate
Auriculate Cordate Cuneate Hastate Oblique Rounded Sagittate Truncate
Alternate Opposite Whorled Decussate
Blade
(lamina)
Apex
Margin
or edge
Midrib or
Midvein
Veins
Base
Petiole Sheath
PERFOLIATE LEAF
(At its base and beginning it surrounds the
stem but without forming a tube)
DECURRENT LEAF
(united at the base opposite its pair)
AMPLEXICAULE LEAF
(The blade forms small prolongations that
surround the stem)
SHEATHED LEAF
(Surrounds entire stem)
STIPULATE LEAF
(Presents stipulate
structures present at base of petiole)

6
2.4 TRICHOMES (present or absent).
GLABROUS
(without hair or trichomes)
7
TRICHOMES
3. REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS.
3.1 CALYX : SYMMETRY, NUMBER OF SEPALS, COLOR, FUSION.
FREE SEPALS FUSED SEPALS
ANDROECIUM GYNOECIUM
3.2 COROLLA: SYMMETRY, NUMBER OF PETALS, COLOR, FUSION.
8
ACTINOMORPHIC COROLLA
(Radial symmetry)
ZYGOMORPHIC COROLLA
(Lateral symmetry)
Free petals Fused petals
TETRAMER PENTAMER
NUMEROUS PETALS
3.2 COROLLA: FORM.
9
BILABIATE PAPILIONACEUS
URCEOLATE FUNNELFORM
TUBULAR
CAMPANULATE
Glumes

3.2 . FLOWERS/ SPECIAL PIECES.
10
Disc flower
Phyllary
(Involucral
Bracts)
receptacle
Ray flower
(Ligule)
Capitulum /
Head
Pappus (sepals are modified
into hairs or scales)
Standard
keel
Wings
LEGUMES
Labellum (ORCHIS)
Tepals (LILIACEAE)
COMPOSITES
TRUE GRASS
Glumes

Palea
Lemma
Lodicules
Gynoecium
Androecium
11
3.4 GYNOECIUM: POSITION, NUMBER OF CARPELS, FUSION.
SUPERIOR

(gynoecium
epigynous)
INFERIOR

(gynoecium
hypogynous)
POSITION OF THE OVARY
NUMBER OF CARPELS
FUSION
MONOCARPELLATE DICARPELLATE TRICARPELLATE TETRACARPELLATE PENTACARPELLATE
FUSED FREE
3.3 ANDROECIUM : NUMBER OF STAMEN, FUSION.
Didynamous Epipetalous Branching Accrescents Diadelphous Monadelphous
3.5 INFLORESCENCIA.
SIMPLE INFLORESCENCES
COMPOUND INFLORESCENCES
12
Dychasial
Drepanium
Cincinnus
Rhipidium
Bostryx
Spike Ament Capitulum / Head Raceme
Corymb Umbel
Panicle
Compound umbel
3.6 FRUIT.
DEHISCENT DRY FRUITS
INDEHISCENT DRY FRUITS
13
Follicle
Legume Lomentum Silique
Foraminal capsule
Pyxis
Capsule with
apical dehiscence
Loculicidal capsule
Achene
Cypsela
Samara
Disamara
Caryopsis
Acorn
Nut
Schizocarp Mericarp
Hazelnut
Cypsela
COMPLEX FRUITS
SIMPLE FRESHY FRUIT
Charichuelo
Grapes
Myrtle-berry
FRUITS IN BERRIES FRUITS IN DRUPES
Pome (Sorbus)
Peponide (Curcurbitceas) Hesperidium (limn)
Plum Apricot
Cinarrhodium
(rosebush)
Pseudocarp
(strawberry)
Drupetum
(blackberry)
Poly-achene
(Clematis)
Balausta
(pomegranate)
4. FLORAL FORMULA.
14
Definition: A series of letters and numbers
presenting the nature of pieces present in a flower,
as well as their number.
P: perigonium K: calyx C: corolla
A: androecium G: ginoecium

Floral symmetry: zigomorfa, * actinomorfa
Examples:
K5: calyx with five free sepals;
K(5): calyx with five fused sepals
C4: corolla with four free petals
G(2): ginoecium bicarpelar (2 fused carpels)
G: superior ovary : inferior ovary

Example of formula 1: * K4[C(4) A4+4] G 1
Flower with radial symmetry (actinomorphic), calyx
with 4 free sepals, corolla with four fused petals,
androecium with two groups of 4 stamens fused to
the corolla and monocarpelar ginoecium with a
superior ovary.
Example of formula 2: * K3 C5 A5 G 3
Drupetum
(blackberry)